Transcript:

Edith Nesbit's "The Things That Matter" is a beautiful poem. Itreflects on what truly holds value in life. Nesbit uses vivid language to makeus think about the importance of simple joys and meaningful connections. Thepoem might remind you to cherish the moments that often go unnoticed. It's areminder that the things that matter aren't always grand or expensive but canbe found in the small details of our daily lives. Stay with us in "EnglishClassics" to explore this wonderful poem further.

The Things That Matter

By Edith Nesbit [Read by Patience Agbabi]

Now that I’ve nearly done my days,
And grown too stiff to sweep or sew,
I sit and think, till I’m amaze,
About what lots of things I know:
Things as I’ve found out one by one–
And when I’m fast down in the clay,
My knowing things and how they’re done
Will all be lost and thrown away.
There’s things, I know, as won’t be lost,
Things as folks write and talk about:
The way to keep your roots from frost,
And how to get your ink spots out.
What medicine’s good for sores and sprains,
What way to salt your butter down,
What charms will cure your different pains,
And what will bright your faded gown.
But more important things than these,
They can’t be written in a book:
How fast to boil your greens and peas,
And how good bacon ought to look;
The feel of real good wearing stuff,
The kind of apple as will keep,
The look of bread that’s rose enough,
And how to get a child asleep.
Whether the jam is fit to pot,
Whether the milk is going to turn,
Whether a hen will lay or not,
Is things as some folks never learn.
I know the weather by the sky,
I know what herbs grow in what lane;
And if sick men are going to die,
Or if they’ll get about again.
Young wives come in, a-smiling, grave,
With secrets that they itch to tell:
I know what sort of times they’ll have,
And if they’ll have a boy or gell.
And if a lad is ill to bind,
Or some young maid is hard to lead,
I know when you should speak ’em kind,
And when it’s scolding as they need.
I used to know where birds ud set,
And likely spots for trout or hare,
And God may want me to forget
The way to set a line or snare;
But not the way to truss a chick,
To fry a fish, or baste a roast,
Nor how to tell, when folks are sick,
What kind of herb will ease them most!
Forgetting seems such silly waste!
I know so many little things,
And now the Angels will make haste
To dust it all away with wings!
O God, you made me like to know,
You kept the things straight in my head,
Please God, if you can make it so,
Let me know something when I’m dead.

中文翻译

（由于目前没有中文翻译，本文由AI翻译）：

真正重要的事

如今我已时日无多，
身子僵得连清扫、缝纫都难，
我坐着沉思，直至惊讶不已，
想着我知晓的诸多事情：
那些我逐一发现的事情 ——
等我深埋于黄土之下，
我所知晓的一切以及做事的方法
都将遗失、被抛却。

我知道有些事不会失传，
人们会将它们著书言谈：
防止根茎受冻的办法，
去除墨渍的窍门。
何种药物能治伤痛扭伤，
怎样腌制黄油才好，
何种符咒能疗不同伤痛，
又用什么能让褪色的衣裙鲜亮。

但还有比这些更重要的事，
它们无法写进书本里：
青菜豌豆该煮多久才好，
上好的熏肉该是啥模样；
优质衣料的触感如何，
哪种苹果能存放得久，
面包发得够高是啥样，
还有怎样哄孩子入睡。

果酱是否适合装罐，
牛奶是否快要变质，
母鸡会不会下蛋，
这些事有些人永远学不会。

我看天色便知天气，
我知道哪条小径长着何种香草；
我也知道病人是否将离世，
或者能否再次康复。

年轻的媳妇们笑着，神情庄重地进来，
怀揣着急于倾诉的秘密：
我知道她们会有怎样的境遇，
会生男孩还是女孩。

要是哪个小伙子难以管教，
或是哪个年轻姑娘不好引领，
我知道何时该好言相劝，
何时该加以责骂。

我曾知道鸟儿会在哪儿筑巢，
哪里是钓鳟鱼或猎野兔的好去处，
上帝或许想让我忘掉
设陷阱或下套的法子；
但不会忘掉捆扎小鸡的技巧，
煎鱼、给烤肉抹油的方法，
也不会忘掉当人们生病时，
哪种草药最能减轻他们的痛苦！

遗忘似乎是愚蠢的浪费！
我知道这么多琐碎小事，
如今天使们会匆匆赶来，
用翅膀将这一切都拂去！

哦，上帝，是你让我喜欢求知，
让我头脑中的事情条理分明，
上帝啊，若你能成全，
请让我死后仍有所知。